Question about java tree stands

[Minimaker]

I came here months ago asking questions about macaws because we were planning to get a large parrot of some kind. I bought a cage and people here told me it was too small for a green wing so I returned it and we've been building an 80" long and tall enclosure (over six foot wide/tall) instead. Hubbs said we should wait to get our new baby until we were done renovating the kitchen and the drywall dust was completely gone from the air.

So now I have plenty of room in the new enclosure to purchase a java wood tree and put it in there. I get confused when I'm looking at these things and don't know which would be the right choice for a macaw. Where is a good place to buy them, and what size should I be looking at ideally? We have no local stores with much of anything for parrots where I live, so I have to find one online. I found this one but then realized the diameter of the branches probably isn't right for a macaw and read it says for small birds: A&E Cage Co. Double Java Tree - Bird Cage Accessories at Hayneedle
and yet a review said someone is using it for their blue and gold? I'm confused as to what I should be looking for size-wise. The lady at our local pet store said she has a macaw at home and it really whittles down her java perches to half their original size. I don't want to make another pricey buying mistake so I was hoping someone here can tell me what I should be looking for?

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Also, for anyone who owns larger macaws can you tell me what items you've found most useful for them? Are there any items you can't live without for caring for them or something they love to play with?

 

[Mattroma]

Many people have the single trees, as far as the double being to small it's hard to say from the picture. Aa lot of the large stands have thicker branches at the top where a bird is more likely to perch. And while Java wood is suppose to be hard the thiner branches may be chewed down quicker by a larger bird.
my real question is what is the enclosure made of, what did you use for the sides. How big is the door on it, can you wheel the tree stand in and out easily so it can be cleaned throughly.
I would try to load the cage with standard perches, ropes, swings etc and keep the stand in a place to play outside of the enclosure.
A favorite store seems to be My safe Bird store. I did a quick peak there and they have beefier tree stands but are sold out now. At least you can see some more examples.
Ever you decide I would love to see pictures when it is finally set up. I Would love to be able to have a space that big for my guy.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I looked up the specs for that specific tree, and it should be just fine for a big mac.
Dimensions & Specifications

Brand
A and E Cage Co.
Cage Material
Wood
Dimensions
73L x 36W x 66H in.
Wood Type
Java Wood

MyBirdStore usually sells a nice assortment of Java trees. Don't know about their currently inventory, let's have a look:
AE Large Java Trees - FREE Shipping!
Great, so they have NONE at the moment.

I bought both of my (large) Java trees from King's Cages, but last time I looked at their site, they no longer sell them.

Bird Cage, Java Wood Perch, Avian Supplies, Pluck No More, Bird Food Table Stands&SubCatID=Large
Those are the ones in their current inventory - I personally don't like either one of them.

I found these:
Floor Stands

Now I'm not gonna lie and tell you that as much as I love my Java trees, I nearly choked when I saw what my GW was doing to them. He chews on the branches, literally saws them off. CHA CHING!! And he showed my B&G how it's done, cause he also gnaws and demolishes them now. My 2 trees went from looking nice and full of thick branches to pretty pathetic looking things, that are being held together by dragonwood perches that I placed all over via sisal rope. :32:

As for the food cups that come with A&E Java trees: My big macs destroyed them as well, and I had to replace them with SS bowls.

 

[Minimaker]

Thanks for answering mattroma. The enclosure structure is made of bird safe untreated fir, the wood back will have a tropical scene mural covered in thick plexiglass, one side will be solid wood because it faces a wall, the left side wall as well as the top of the enclosure we special ordered powder-coated heavy fence panels for, the front will be fir and plexiglass doors. I figure if the bird starts chewing I can cover areas with plexiglass or mosaic tile because I know how to lay tile. My husband works six days a week so progress is slow right now but I will post photos when it starts to look more done.

I already bought a large metal play gym on wheels for outside the enclosure, I'm looking for perching area inside the enclosure and nothing is long enough to reach from one side to the other so the middle space will be wasted unless I can figure out what to put in there. The longest branch perches I've found were only half that long. 80" is a long expanse to fill when it comes to ordering branches online. They don't seem to have any that size anywhere I've looked. A local orchard is going out of business and selling off apple trees (the ground will soon be farm land instead) so my husband wants to go buy a tree from her to use in it.

I'm worried about pests so I'm trying to find a safer alternative. I'm afraid of bringing bugs into the house, yuck

*Oh just saw your post Wendy, thanks so much. I'll look those over and see what you found. I really appreciate the input and help. I'm trying not to screw this up for my bird. I want her safe and happy.

 

[Birdman666]

YEP!

They are expensive, and a macaw will destroy them in short order.

I like these best:

http://www.exoticwooddreams.com/catalog20/image2/100099lg.jpg

This place sells a 32 piece ribbon wood kit for $250 plus shipping. From that you can make a monster playgym:

Exotic Woods for Exotic Pets and Design - Exotic Wood Dreams

I did my big playstand out of PVC.

With macaws, you want plenty of wood toys, and usually some sort of boing or swing.

 

[Minimaker]

So what do you think I should use in this extra wide cage if not one of those java things?

I just took a photo with my phone to show how wide it looks. It's far from done, and the mural is still laying on the bottom in a box. I have to sand the wood, trim it out, etc. I'm hoping hubbs will put the fence panel in the side tonight. So far to go yet but at least it's a start. http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag285/BClosedDoors/Mobile%20Uploads/623206d6-f855-4c67-baf7-96c6a3149c90_zps73819c37.jpg

 

[JerseyWendy]

Looking at the build, aren't you afraid your GW is going to make 'short work' out of the wood? I know for a fact both of mine would chew through that in no time flat. :54:

 

[Minimaker]

I figured there will be a lot of covering the wood, either with plexiglass or mosaic tiles. We're just started, you're looking at literally one day of work there We got that all done yesterday alone. We hauled butt and worked hard yesterday, hehe.

**********Thanks so much everyone, I'll show my husband all of these links and figure out where to go from here. I really don't want outside pests brought into the house so I'm glad to have options to present to my husband.

 

[Birdman666]

Looking at the build, aren't you afraid your GW is going to make 'short work' out of the wood? I know for a fact both of mine would chew through that in no time flat. :54:

That would be my fear as well.

 

[Birdman666]

So what do you think I should use in this extra wide cage if not one of those java things?

I would suggest building something like the ones in the photos I showed you.

You can buy the base supplies for a monster playstand from those guys and DIY it for around $250.

 

[Minimaker]

Looking at the build, aren't you afraid your GW is going to make 'short work' out of the wood? I know for a fact both of mine would chew through that in no time flat. :54:

That would be my fear as well.

Trust me, when I'm done it'll be tight We haven't even started covering any surface in there, it's just a structural base right now. I plan on tiling and plexiglassing everything in sight inside that thing. I just tiled my kitchen backsplash and this enclosure is next. She'll have bad luck chewing through tile and flat "nothing to grab a hold of" plexiglass.

If she gets out I'll change her name to Houdini

 

[Birdman666]

Looking at the build, aren't you afraid your GW is going to make 'short work' out of the wood? I know for a fact both of mine would chew through that in no time flat. :54:

That would be my fear as well.

Trust me, when I'm done it'll be tight We haven't even started covering any surface in there, it's just a structural base right now. I plan on tiling and plexiglassing everything in sight inside that thing. I just tiled my kitchen backsplash and this enclosure is next. She'll have bad luck chewing through tile and flat "nothing to grab a hold of" plexiglass.

But they need to be able to climb around on stuff too... So that's the next step. And also make sure the plexi has enough ventilation.

 

[Minimaker]

We'll have the ceiling and side wall in powder coated fencing, will that be enough ventilation?

 

[Minimaker]

Gotta go guys, thanks everyone for your help. I'll check back in later for any more messages. Have a lovely day everyone, much appreciation for your input.

 

[Bartleby]

Just an FYI, tiling may not be not be as permanent as you believe. I know of multiple people who have partially tiled their birdroom walls for the sake of easy cleaning only to have their macaws pick away at the grout and pull the tiles right off the wall. Ceramic tiles can be easily cracked as well, my Blue throat has cracked one!

This doesn't mean your bird will do this, but it means your bird is perfectly capable of it. A wide, rotating variety of appropriate and complex toys plus tons of out of cage time should keep your guy/gal busy enough to hopefully not focus on the enclosure. However, there are no guarantees and don't be surprised if this cage doesn't last that long.